Practical guide
Learn to write prompts
The prompt is your instruction to an AI. The clearer you are, the more useful the response. This five-part formula helps you explain what you need.
The formula
- 1RoleWho should the AI act as?'You are a patient primary school teacher.'
- 2GoalWhat should it do?'Explain fractions to me.'
- 3ContextWhat background does it need?'I am helping my nine-year-old child with homework.'
- 4ConstraintsWhat constraints should it follow?'Maximum ten lines and no jargon.'
- 5FormatHow should it present the answer?'A bullet list with a pizza example.'
Before and after: one task, two prompts
Work email
Vague prompt
Write an email requesting time off.
Improved prompt
Act as a business communications assistant. Write an email asking my manager Laura for three days off (March 10–12). We work in a small, friendly office. Use a polite professional tone, no more than six lines, and include a subject.
Why it works better: The second prompt states the recipient, dates, tone and length, leaving less for the AI to guess.
Studying
Vague prompt
Explain photosynthesis to me.
Improved prompt
Act as a patient science teacher. Explain photosynthesis to a secondary school student who is confused about sunlight. Use simple language, no more than eight sentences, and end with three check questions.
Why it works better: The school level, specific question and quiz format make the answer more useful.
Guided prompt builder
Fill in the fields: the site combines your answers into a prompt you can copy to any AI.
Your prompt
Live previewTip: Say what you want the AI to do.
The builder runs in your browser: what you type is not sent or saved.
Ready-to-use prompt library
All prompts from our guides in one place. Replace the parts in square brackets with your details.
78 prompts found
Useful first request
Canva AIOutline an eight-slide presentation about [topic] for [audience]. Give each slide a title and three key points.
Improve a draft
Canva AIImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
Canva AIExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
Canva AICreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
Canva AICompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
Canva AICheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
ChatGPTDraft a polite email to [recipient] about [purpose]. Keep it professional, under 120 words, and suggest a subject line.
Improve a draft
ChatGPTImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
ChatGPTExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
ChatGPTCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
ChatGPTCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
ChatGPTCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
ClaudeDraft a polite email to [recipient] about [purpose]. Keep it professional, under 120 words, and suggest a subject line.
Improve a draft
ClaudeImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
ClaudeExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
ClaudeCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
ClaudeCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
ClaudeCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
ElevenLabsCreate a short video of [scene], with [movement], [camera angle], and [style]. Avoid text and logos.
Improve a draft
ElevenLabsImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
ElevenLabsExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
ElevenLabsCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
ElevenLabsCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
ElevenLabsCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
EmergentHelp me build a simple responsive website for [purpose]. First outline the pages and features, then provide a development plan.
Improve a draft
EmergentImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
EmergentExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
EmergentCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
EmergentCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
EmergentCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
GitHub CopilotHelp me build a simple responsive website for [purpose]. First outline the pages and features, then provide a development plan.
Improve a draft
GitHub CopilotImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
GitHub CopilotExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
GitHub CopilotCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
GitHub CopilotCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
GitHub CopilotCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
Google GeminiExplain [topic] to a complete beginner in six sentences, with an everyday example and three quiz questions.
Improve a draft
Google GeminiImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
Google GeminiExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
Google GeminiCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
Google GeminiCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
Google GeminiCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
LovableHelp me build a simple responsive website for [purpose]. First outline the pages and features, then provide a development plan.
Improve a draft
LovableImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
LovableExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
LovableCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
LovableCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
LovableCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
Microsoft CopilotHere are my tasks for the week: [list]. Build a realistic priority-based daily plan with breaks.
Improve a draft
Microsoft CopilotImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
Microsoft CopilotExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
Microsoft CopilotCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
Microsoft CopilotCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
Microsoft CopilotCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
MidjourneyCreate an image of [subject] in [setting], in a [style] style. Describe lighting, mood, and composition clearly.
Improve a draft
MidjourneyImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
MidjourneyExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
MidjourneyCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
MidjourneyCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
MidjourneyCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
NotebookLMExplain [topic] to a complete beginner in six sentences, with an everyday example and three quiz questions.
Improve a draft
NotebookLMImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
NotebookLMExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
NotebookLMCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
NotebookLMCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
NotebookLMCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
PerplexityResearch [topic]. Summarise verified facts, cite the original sources and flag uncertainties or missing evidence.
Improve a draft
PerplexityImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
PerplexityExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
PerplexityCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
PerplexityCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
PerplexityCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.
Useful first request
RunwayCreate a short video of [scene], with [movement], [camera angle], and [style]. Avoid text and logos.
Improve a draft
RunwayImprove this draft for clarity while preserving my meaning: [paste text]. Explain the main changes.
Explain simply
RunwayExplain [topic] to a beginner in five short points and give one everyday example.
Plan a task
RunwayCreate a practical checklist for [task], including time estimates and things to verify.
Compare alternatives
RunwayCompare three approaches to [goal]. List pros, cons and assumptions.
Review results
RunwayCheck this result against my instructions: [instructions] and [result]. Identify what needs correction.